learning the ropes: good sources of scrap?

**ilyaz** · 10-02-2010, 07:57 AM

Originally Posted by 708bigbuck

A good source is old tv's if you find them. You can usually get 1-2 lbs of clean copper out of them with minimal effort. open the back, there is a cone on the back of the picture tube that is wound in copper wire and there is a degausing cable wrapped in electrical tape around the picture tube. If you feel like going a little farther you can snip all the wire and cords and throw them in a barrel they add up pretty quickley and in my area they pay .50 a lb for them. You can pull the transformers out and the scrap yards will pay for them as electric motors (about 15-20 cents a lb in my area.

I took apart a few old TVs and monitors and took out the cones and the degausing cables. I can do this and also get all the copper from one cone in about 5 mins, but stripping insulation off of degausing cables is pain in the neck. The question is: is it even worth doing? Am I going to get much more for just the copper from the cables than for the same copper wrapped in insulation? Thanks.

**Mick** · 10-02-2010, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by ilyaz

I took apart a few old TVs and monitors and took out the cones and the degausing cables. I can do this and also get all the copper from one cone in about 5 mins, but stripping insulation off of degausing cables is pain in the neck. The question is: is it even worth doing? Am I going to get much more for just the copper from the cables than for the same copper wrapped in insulation? Thanks.

You'll need to decide if the price difference is worth it. "Insulated Copper Wire" will usually bring about half of stripped copper wire ( #1 or #2 Copper, depending on wire type. I took a quick look at the prices here for each and on Aug 12th they were:

Insulated Copper Wire - $1.18
#2 Copper 2.30
#1 Copper 2.40

**ilyaz** · 10-02-2010, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by Mick

Insulated Copper Wire - $1.18
#2 Copper 2.30
#1 Copper 2.40

Mick, I've been taking my scarp to the same nearby yard, so, of course, I can call them and ask about their current prices. But do you know whether there are any online sources of current prices. I realize that these prices might be different form those offered by a particular scrap yard, but any info is good. I live in Maryland. Thanks.

**Mick** · 10-02-2010, 09:44 AM

"Current prices" cannot really be compared. For instance, my current prices are much lower than the scrap yard to allow for my profit. The scrap yard where I take it is lower than where they take it in southern Maine and so on. What you might try is start by going to KITCO which shows the LME (London Metal Exchange) from which most other markets are based. Then look online for scrap yards in your area. Basically, the further you're willing to travel, the more you'll get.

Do an online search for "scrap yard locator", like http://scrapmetalforum.com/

**CAS** · 10-02-2010, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by ilyaz

Mick, I've been taking my scarp to the same nearby yard, so, of course, I can call them and ask about their current prices. But do you know whether there are any online sources of current prices. I realize that these prices might be different form those offered by a particular scrap yard, but any info is good. I live in Maryland. Thanks.

This might help you since you're in Maryland. They update their prices daily.

This place is in NJ, which is where we live, but it's a little far from us so we don't go there. They are paying a bit more than our scrap yard so you might find they're higher than your yard too.

http://www.rockawayrecycling.com/newaspx/default.aspx

**Happy-Scrappy** · 10-21-2010, 01:16 PM

Hey, just wanted to say thanks for the link. Even though I am all the way
on the other side of the country, after making some phone calls it seems that
the prices are within pennies of what is being paid here.

There is only one yard that posts their prices online, and they only update it about once a quarter
so it is basicaly worthless. Truth be known, I really don't call anymore. If I am ready to sell I usually just do it.

This will however at least give me something to look at and watch trends since it is updated daily !

Thanks again !

**CAS** · 10-22-2010, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by Happy-Scrappy

Hey, just wanted to say thanks for the link. Even though I am all the way
on the other side of the country, after making some phone calls it seems that
the prices are within pennies of what is being paid here.

There is only one yard that posts their prices online, and they only update it about once a quarter
so it is basicaly worthless. Truth be known, I really don't call anymore. If I am ready to sell I usually just do it.

This will however at least give me something to look at and watch trends since it is updated daily !

Thanks again !

You're very welcome!
Here's a thread I started with some other places/prices too - http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/showt...al-price-links

**CAS** · 10-02-2010, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by ilyaz

I took apart a few old TVs and monitors and took out the cones and the degausing cables. I can do this and also get all the copper from one cone in about 5 mins, but stripping insulation off of degausing cables is pain in the neck. The question is: is it even worth doing? Am I going to get much more for just the copper from the cables than for the same copper wrapped in insulation? Thanks.

I'll do it when I don't have much else to strip. If I have a lot of other wire, then I just leave it cased. The tape around those wires usually cakes onto the blade and makes the blade sticky and dull. They really are a pain in the butt to stirp.